Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government has committed €1.3 billion to the delivery of flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the National Development Plan 2021 – 2030 to protect approximately 23,000 properties in communities that are under threat from river and coastal flood risk.

Since 2018, as part of a phased approach to scheme delivery, this funding has allowed the OPW, in partnership with local authorities throughout the country, to treble the number of schemes at design, planning and construction to some 98 schemes at this time.

Included in these active schemes progressing are four Tranche II Pilot projects. The pilot, which I announced in May 2023, is in response to engagement between OPW and local authorities to agree a planned national approach to future schemes that matches return on investment from the available capacity in the local authorities and OPW. Consequently, a new delivery model for flood relief schemes is being piloted which will better inform the future Tranche II schemes' delivery.

Flood relief schemes are large, complex, multiannual projects. They require detailed analysis of the sourcing and causes of flooding. They involve extensive landowner and stakeholder engagement and detailed environmental assessments and mitigation measures. While expenditure on each project in any year is dependent on many variables, the majority of expenditure for flood relief projects is incurred during the construction phase. Throughout the scheme-delivery stages, project budgets of flood relief schemes are continually monitored and reviewed by OPW.

For the-five year period from 2018 to 2022, investment of some €300m has taken place on flood relief scheme measures. In the coming years, further schemes will progress through the project stages, obtain planning permission and begin construction. As the overall delivery programme advances, OPW engages with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform regarding the capital and current funding required through the annual budget process.

In addition to the active flood relief schemes noted above, the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme provides funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation or coastal protection works or studies to address localised flooding and/or coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. This scheme provides 90% funding to local authorities to manage localised flood risk.

A review of the Minor Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, which I have requested, has been underway in the OPW. This review is examining, amongst other things, the increase to the cost threshold which should apply in order to ensure that effective supports are being provided to Local Authorities. I am aware that the review is nearing completion and I look forward to its finalisation.